Court told Susanne Hinte, 48, had 'love and romance on her mind, not theft'

by JON LOCKETT

20th July 2016, 3:51 pm

Updated: 20th July 2016, 4:14 pm

A GRAN who tried to claim a £33million Lotto jackpot with a washed-up ticket was today cleared of stealing a pensioner's purse.

Susanne Hinte, 48, was accused of swiping £55 and two bank cards from 73-year-old Susan Kirkby after knocking on her door late at night to ask for directions.

SWNS

Hinte, 48, was accused of swiping £55 and two bank cards

SWNS

Susanne Hinte claimed she washed her 'winning' ticket in machine

A court heard she told Mrs Kirkby she was lost and couldn't get in touch with blind date Glen Gregory whom she had met on website Plenty of Fish.

Mrs Kirkby gave Hinte directions to his home in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, West Mids., but claimed she stole her purse as she left at 11pm on January 3 last year.

But today German-born Hinte, of Warndon, Worcester, was cleared of one charge of theft after JPs deliberated for two hours at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

Following the verdict, divorced Hinte, who wore a long white dress with blue flowers on and blue shoes, said "thank you" to JPs and leaned on a desk for support.

Chairman of the bench Ellis Carlton said: "Having considered the evidence, we have to decide whether the prosecution have proved that you took the purse.

"Mrs Kirkby had not mentioned this (sudden) movement in any previous statement.

"It leaves only the circumstantial evidence that the purse was on the kitchen prior to you arriving and missing after you left.

"We can therefore not be sure that you appropriated the purse, we therefore find you not guilty of this offence."

The gran-of-four hugged her PR agent Barry Tomes after leaving the court room.

She refused to comment outside court but in a statement released by Mr Tomes, she said: "I am looking forward to relaxing this weekend at Shardfest in Birmingham where I hope to meet my idol James Arthur."